Talking Creep Feed

[mnmtranching]

Is anybody? Prices I got yesterday. Corn $247, 14% pellets $280 and $290 per ton. I wonder if it would be like throwing money away. :?: Looks like calves will be in the 1.00-1.20 range this Fall.

Any Thoughts?

 

[1982vett]

No longer creepfeed, I do let them have access to the 18% Crystalix tubs.

 

[TexasBred]

MM...is that a 14% creep you're pricing there?? Most creep feeds are pretty trashy unless you can find one with a fiber level of around 8-9% maximum. Not gonna be a "pretty picture" this year writing checks for feed. :cry2:

 

[pdfangus]

We bought a creep feeder to creep feed our bull calves.

used it one year and then corn got too expensive.

been sitting idle for two years now.

any one want to buy a practically new creep feeder.

 

[bigbull338]

the only time it really pays with creep feeding calves is if your in a drought.or having a rough hard winter.yes i know the creep feed is sky high but those are 2 times a person may need to creep feed their calves.we never creep feed.an i sure dont creep the reg calves.if they eat feed.they eat it with their mommas at the feed trough.an the cows get fed maybe 2x a week.enough to keep them coming up.

 

[dieselbeef]

gotta creep em here. or free choice the trough. aint no grass and even less rain. i sell pellets at 9% protien for 200/ton. delivered w/in 50 mi round trip of my house. 5 ton min unloading only by dump trailer. though i will dump it into yer bucket so you can load a feeder

 

[Jovid]

We bought a creep feeder to creep feed our bull calves.

used it one year and then corn got too expensive.

been sitting idle for two years now.

any one want to buy a practically new creep feeder.

I do but I can't afford the fuel from Oklahoma to come and get it. :lol:

 

[dieselbeef]

We bought a creep feeder to creep feed our bull calves.

used it one year and then corn got too expensive.

been sitting idle for two years now.

any one want to buy a practically new creep feeder.

I do but I can't afford the fuel from Oklahoma to come and get it. :lol:

aye..10-4 on that...same deal on the pellets . id love that feeder.

 

[KNERSIE]

the only time it really pays with creep feeding calves is if your in a drought.or having a rough hard winter.yes i know the creep feed is sky high but those are 2 times a person may need to creep feed their calves.we never creep feed.an i sure dont creep the reg calves.if they eat feed.they eat it with their mommas at the feed trough.an the cows get fed maybe 2x a week.enough to keep them coming up.

If you feed the cows anyway, you'll be money ahead to rather creep feed the calves.

I don't creep feed unless its a severe drought and with only the one calving season I have now I doubt it will ever really be neccesary, but especially when feed is expensive its my experience that you can shorten the timeframe you creep feed with the same result. Creep feed hard for a month before weaning and you'll get a very similar result than creep feeding for much longer

 

[hillsdown]

This is the first year that I have actually creep fed with a feeder. It was my Christmas present. Before I would put feed in a shed that only the calves could get into.

I have filled it three times and it cost 575 dollars per 2000lb tote but that was 18% dairy calf starter ration with decox.

Now I am using just a 14% 4h ration that is half the price ,I do see a dramatic difference in calves and cows this year but I don't think I will get it back when I sell them.We had tons of hay last year but the quality was not as good, too much moisture.

You guys are saying 1.20 for them ,here we will be lucky to get .90 for them this year.

I love my feeder ,I just wish that feed prices were reflected of the price of cattle.

 

[TexasBred]

gotta creep em here. or free choice the trough. aint no grass and even less rain. i sell pellets at 9% protien for 200/ton. delivered w/in 50 mi round trip of my house. 5 ton min unloading only by dump trailer. though i will dump it into yer bucket so you can load a feeder

Wow, that's still a lot of money for not much of anything. What's the fiber level?? 20% or more??Course it's delivered so that helps.

 

[Jogeephus]

the only time it really pays with creep feeding calves is if your in a drought.or having a rough hard winter.yes i know the creep feed is sky high but those are 2 times a person may need to creep feed their calves.we never creep feed.an i sure dont creep the reg calves.

I agree. Never understood creep feeding unless it was an emergency. (Yeah, I road the short bus.) Once my calves get to their desired weight I'll sell them. Getting them there quicker with creep doesn't add another calf to my crop. Only adds expense. I found I can add more weight by reducing shrink and that doesn't cost anything but time.

 

[mnmtranching]

MM...is that a 14% creep you're pricing there?? Most creep feeds are pretty trashy unless you can find one with a fiber level of around 8-9% maximum. Not gonna be a "pretty picture" this year writing checks for feed. :cry2:

Yup, it's a product put out by a megga company. We all can imagine the trash they get rid of by putting it in pellets adding some good smelling stuff. :roll: I wonder how much is dust and dirt. :? The salesman actually told me, REALLY :shock: 4 pounds of this creep to 1 pound of gain. They have tests to prove it. :lol2:

I agree under certain conditions a creep feed can be justified. But at current prices it's got to be for salvage only.

 

[TexasBred]

"mega company" huh....my experience with the sales folks from those companies is that about all they really know about their feed is the price. (what's in it is top secret and changes daily). :lol2:

That good corn silage you put up will probalby work much better, once you get some. Thawing out up that way yet??

 

[mnmtranching]

TxB, I have 12-15 cows to sell. got to get the herd #'s down. My plan is to separate this bunch in a small pasture, get the calves eating well and sell the cows in mid Summer. Couple reasons, Short of pasture and to hit the best market for cows.

I'm finishing up on the corn planting, hopefully this weekend. The weather is getting nice up here now, we're even getting decent moisture, so far.

 

[TexasBred]

TxB, I have 12-15 cows to sell. got to get the herd #'s down. My plan is to separate this bunch in a small pasture, get the calves eating well and sell the cows in mid Summer. Couple reasons, Short of pasture and to hit the best market for cows.

I'm finishing up on the corn planting, hopefully this weekend. The weather is getting nice up here now, we're even getting decent moisture, so far.

Sounds good. Maybe then you will have a little spare time for the important things like fishing and such. :P

 

[dieselbeef]

gotta creep em here. or free choice the trough. aint no grass and even less rain. i sell pellets at 9% protien for 200/ton. delivered w/in 50 mi round trip of my house. 5 ton min unloading only by dump trailer. though i will dump it into yer bucket so you can load a feeder

Wow, that's still a lot of money for not much of anything. What's the fiber level?? 20% or more??Course it's delivered so that helps.

9% protien
2% fat
16% fibre
2% calcium

minimums

 

[MikeC]

Most times calves only need a little boost of energy in their diets to put them above par at weaning.

Whole corn will do fine for this. The experience from them eating out of a trough/bunk is immeasurable at weaning due to them not standing around bawling 24/7 and not knowing how to eat feed.

To each his own........... but it pays in many circumstances and not so much for others.

When forage is scarce, I can't see how it wouldn't pay.

 

[TexasBred]

Whole lot more bang for you buck with the corn -vs- a 9% pellet. Probably almost double the energy and nearly as much protein. Raised a group of holstein steers one winter on ryegrass grazing, all the chopped corn they would clean up in 24 hours and free choice mineral. They came out great.

 

[dieselbeef]

cant buy corn round here for 200 ton delivered either. good for free choice while grass is off. puts the wieght on em just as well.